Collapsible box.



PATBNFIED- JULY 19, 1904. I R. A. GRUTGHFIELD. IGOLLA'PSIBLVE BOX. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1903.

a Sunni-mam- 1,

I Nb MODEL.

No. 765,356. 'PATENTED JULY 19, 1904 R. A. GRUTGHFIBLD.

UOLLAPSIBLE BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. e. 1903.

no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented July 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

COLLAPSIIBLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,356, dated July 19, 1904;. Application filed September 8, 1908. Serial No. 172,389. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RosA ALIcE ORUToII- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county'of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and usefulCollapsible Box, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to knockdown or foldable boxes designed especially for use in storing clothing or other household goods, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which when set up for use will be strong'and durable, one which may be readily collapsed and folded into compact form for shipment or storage, and one in which the lid or cover may when so desired and when the device is to be employed for household purposes be upholstered to give the box a neat finished appearance and adapt it for use as a couch.

. To these ends the invention comprises the novel details of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one formof embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts detached. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another form of embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail View.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the base of the box composed of any suitable material and of any desired 7 form, though preferably rectangular, as herein shown, and sustained by casters 2, disposed one at each corner. The sides and ends, which, conjointly with the base, constitute the body of the box, are removably attached to the base and to each other in the following manner: Attached to the upper face of the base at its transverse center and adjacent to its opposite ends are hingeleaves 3, which when the parts are assembled register with coincident leaves 4, attached to the inner faces of the end walls 5, the leaves 3 and 4 being detachably connected by removable pintles 6.

Attached to the side walls 7 upon their inner faces and adjacent to their opposite ends are hinge-leaves 8, which register with coin cident leaves 9, attached to the inner faces of the ends 5, adjacent to the ends of the latter, said leaves 8 and 9 being detachably connected by removable pintles 10. The side walls 7 each consist of a'pair of sections hingedly connected, as at 11, to permit them to fold one upon the other.

12 indicates the box-lid, which comprises side walls 13, end walls 14, and top transverse connecting-bars 15, which when the device is employed as a couch may sustain the usual springs and upholstering material. to one of the side walls of the top is a pair of hooks or other hinge members 16, which engage eye members 17, carried by one of the side Walls 7 of the body, whereby the top is hinged to the body and adapted to swing backward to permit access to the interior of the latter. When the lid 12 is turned backward, it may be secured in such position by means of books 18, pivoted to the inner faces of the side Walls 5 and adapted to engage eyes I9, carried by the end Walls 14 of the lid.

Attention is here directed to the fact that the removable ends 5 and the sections of the removable sides 7 are of uniform length and correspond to the internal transverse diameter of the lid 12. Thus it will be seen that the ends 5 and sides 7 may be readily removed, as above explained, and packed into the lid 12, for the open side of which the base 1 will under such conditions form a closure, thus permitting the device to be readily collapsed and reduced to compact form for storage or shipment.

In the form of the device illustrated in Fig.

3 the base 1 is provided with longitudinal grooves 20, disposed approximate to its side edges for the reception of corresponding tongues 21, formed upon the lower edge of the sides 7, while the ends 5 are provided upon their lower edges with similar tongues 22, adapted to engage corresponding grooves 23, formed transversely of the base adjacent to its end edges. To assemble the parts in this form of the device, the ends are first engaged with the base by an endwise movement of the former, and the sides 7 are likewise engaged by an endwise movement and afterbeing Secured brought to the proper position are locked against further movement by removable pins or pintles 23, adapted to be inserted downward through vertical openings 24, formed through the sides and engaged at their lower ends with registering openings 25, formed in the base, it being apparent, of course, that the ends will be fixed against movement, owing to their abutment with the sides. In all other respects the construction and operation is identical with that above described. It is to be particularly noted that in this form of the device the sides will, owing to their tongueand-groove connection with the bottom, be firmly and rigidly held to maintain the sections of the sides against relative displacement, and, furthermore, that in both forms the lid or cover may be upholstered in any appropriate manner to impart to the box a finished attractive appearance and adapt it for use as a couch when employed for household purposes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I produce a device of simple construction which will be efficient in operation and one which is admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view. It is to be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein set forth, inasmuch as minor changes in the form, proportions, material, and manner of assemblage of the parts will come Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A box comprising a.bottom, sides and ends detachably connected, and a box-like lid removably pivoted to one of the side walls, said side Walls each consisting of a plurality of sections arranged longitudinally end to end and the sections being of a length substantially coincident with one dimension of the ends and with the internal transverse diameter of the lid, whereby the latter may receive the sides and ends when the box is collapsed.

2. A box comprising a bottom provided Withlongitudinal and transverse grooves, side and end walls provided with tongues adapted to engage the grooves, and a box-like lid removably pivoted to one of the walls, the side walls each consisting of a plurality of sections arranged longitudinally end to end and the sections being of a length substantially coincident with one dimension of the ends and with the internal transverse diameter of the lid, whereby the latter may receive the side and end walls when the box is collapsed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROSA ALICE CRUTOHFIELD. 

